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If there was ever such a thing as the invisible car, the Mazda MPV would be a pretty good contender for the crown. Few could visualise the shape, fewer still would know what the asking price was or how good, bad or average it is. The name said it all. Mazda MPV - shorthand for generic, unexceptional Japanese product. It's an endearing image to picture a bunch of disillusioned Mazda marketing executives charged with naming their new MPV. It's Friday night, the pachinko parlours and karaoke dens are calling and under the heading 'MPV' is a blank flip chart page where the creatives should be brainstorming names. Inspiration is not forthcoming. Leaving it until Monday is opted for, whereupon the boss has popped in and thought, "Mazda MPV - what a masterstroke" and had the promo material printed.
It probably didn't happen like that, but it has served to sell the Mazda somewhat short. As long as you can live with the underpowered 2.0 engine, the Mazda MPV is a thoroughly thought through method of transporting seven in reasonable comfort. It's certainly not the laughing stock its somewhat Vauxhall Sintra-like looks may suggest. With the Mazda's residuals not holding up as well as its more successful rivals, a low-mileage MPV represents something of a bargain in a market where asking prices are usually pretty stratospheric.
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What you get
The pre-2002 MPV comes only in one guise, powered by a 2.0-litre 121bhp petrol-driven four-cylinder engine with five speed manual transmission. Still, you do get plenty of equipment: electric everything, alloy wheels and a superb air conditioning system capable of producing separate climates at the front and rear.
Like obvious Galaxy and Espace-sized rivals, the Mazda has versatile room for seven - and you can do all the usual kinds of things with the seating arrangements in terms of folding, removing and sliding things about. All but the front two seats can be individually removed and the middle three slide forward so that rear passengers (whose seats are fixed in place) can get in and out more easily.
Pretty standard stuff then so far. Where the MPV does differ from the Ford or the Renault is in its use of a sliding door each side for rear passenger entrance and exit. True, it makes the vehicle feel a little more van-like, but for easy ingress and egress when you're tightly parked at Tesco, it's a better solution.
In recent times, cars of this kind have come in for criticism on two main fronts. First, there's often a lack of luggage space: not much point in travelling seven-up if there's no space for anyone's baggage. Chrysler and Renault have responded by offering larger (and pricier) versions of their large People Carriers, but in the Mazda's case, this shouldn't be necessary thanks to 294 litres of large luggage space, even with all the seats taken. Should you take the rear two rows of seats out, this figure rises to 2745 litres.
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What to look for
The MPV suffers from the usual Mazda failing of insubstantial plastics qualities. This may appear a trivial complaint, but despite the decent equipment levels, the MPV rarely feels like an indestructible product. It's obvious where costs have been cut, and it could have been done in a cleverer way. Check the interior for tears, stains and snapped off fittings, and also inspect the luggage bay and the seat backs for signs of damage when loading. Otherwise insist on a service history. Mechanically the MPV benefits from Mazda's usual reputation for excellence and the 1991cc engine has a solid reputation. Check for evidence of a tow bar fitment. The Mazda MPV is slightly underpowered as it stands and evidence of heavy towing could have put undue strain on the engine.
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Replacement parts
(approx. based on 1999 Mazda MPV) Consumables prices are all standard fare for the MPV with no major shocks in store. Expect to pay around £20 for a fuel filter and £6 for an oil filter. Service intervals are every 6,000 miles, so it may be worth checking the odometer to see if the previous owner is handing you a car due for the once over.
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On the road
Behind the wheel, everything is logically set out, with large, easy-to-use stalks and switches. And, as you'd expect from a car of this kind, all-round visibility is excellent. On the move, it's not a lot different to driving the Premacy. All of which means you'll find the car efficient, easy to use but not much fun. Still, you don't buy a car like this to chuck it around the lanes - though if you were to, you might notice that the MPV rolls a little less than some of its obvious rivals. Something like that can make all the difference for travelsick passengers.
Performance from the 2.0-litre engine (rest to sixty in 13.9s en route to 113mph) and fuel economy (22.4mpg around town) are only adequate but the three-year warranty, as ever with Mazda, remains close to class leading. Not that you're likely to need it: everything feels impeccably screwed together and quality of fit and finish in typically impressive.
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Overall
The market may have ignored the Mazda MPV, but a good people carrier with no image spells a used car bargain. Snapping up a used Mazda MPV is a very cost-effective way to land something that's far more modern than it appears. Just so long as you're not too bothered about its lack of power and surfeit of charisma you can't go too far wrong. It's a whole lot better than you'd at first believe.
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